The artwork titled “Moses Laid Amid the Flags” was created by the artist James Tissot, approximately between the years 1896 and 1902. This religious painting forms part of the Symbolism art movement and is crafted using gouache on board. The piece is modest in scale, with dimensions of roughly 25.2 by 12.4 centimeters.
The artwork depicts a serene yet poignant biblical scene set amidst dense vegetation of reeds and flags by the water’s edge, where the infant Moses has been laid by his mother in a desperate attempt to save his life. To the left, a woman is bending over the basket, which is nestled among the tall grasses, reaching out to cradle or perhaps rescue the child. The painting is detailed with muted colors and subtle lighting, with a full moon glowing softly in the dusky sky, casting a tranquil ambiance over the scene. The composition focuses on the tenderness of the moment and the fragility of the infant, who is at the mercy of the elements and the compassion of strangers, capturing the essence of the narrative from the Book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible.
